News and updates

June

(19 June) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes:

• an update on the Draft East Inshore and East Offshore marine plans
• gathering evidence for the South marine plan areas
• partnership working
• evidence gathering projects
• out and about diary
• team changes

(19 June) Updated detailed team breakdown

The new detailed breakdown includes showing Paul Gilliland as Acting Head of Marine Planning and Cara Forbes-Malone's married name (Morris).

(18 June) Published the Coastal Partnerships Network's Baseline report for developing partnership working at the coast

Coastal partnerships have been active in developing, delivering and managing coastal areas for a number of years. They represent experienced and diverse hubs at strategic locations around the coasts of the UK. While the UK-wide geographical coverage of these partnerships is not entirely complete, they have generally developed in areas of intense land and marine activity where there are high levels of potential for conflict between stakeholders and users.

May

(30 May) MMO publishes two new marine evidence reports

The first Marine Management Organisation (MMO) reports on co-location and cumulative effects are published today (30 May 2013). These two new publications are part of the MMO’s work to identify and fill gaps in knowledge that marine planners, regulators and users currently face.

April

(26 April) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes information on:

• South marine plan areas' Statement of Public Participation
• official start of plan-making in the South
• update on the East Inshore and East Offshore marine plan areas
• refresh of the Strategic Scoping Report
• update to the Marine Planning Portal
• Marine Planning Team structure
• out and about diary.

(8 April) Published South marine plan areas Statement of Public Participation

The Statement of Public Participation was approved by the Secretary of State on the 1 April 2013 and published on 8 April. It sets out the process for plan making in the South Inshore and South Offshore plan areas, who may be involved in marine planning and how and when people can get involved. It also includes an overall timeline for plan-making in the South plan areas.

(2 April) Marine Planning Team

Following feedback gathered at the Statement of Public Participation workshops in the South plan areas in January 2013, stakeholders felt that more visibility was needed in relation to who works on the Marine Planning Team, and what their responsibilities are.

February

(20 February) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes information on:

• marine planning workshops in the South marine plan areas held in January
• draft marine plans for the East
• our duty to co-operate under the Marine Policy Statement and National Planning Policy Framework
• evidence-gathering projects on recreation, tourism, social impacts and values, shipping data, and South areas characterisation study
• out and about diary
• team changes and new recruits.

(19 February) Summary and presentations from South marine plan area workshops

We held three workshops in Exeter, Southampton and Brighton to introduce marine planning in the South plan areas. The events were attended by more than 170 people from different organisations representing a range of interests including different sectors, such as tourism and recreation, ports and shipping, aggregates, local authorities, consultancies, conservation and environmental interests, coastal forums and central government among others.

(8 February) Get involved in gathering recreational data for marine planning

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is gathering recreational data for the South plan areas and needs your help.

If you represent a recreational marine activity along the South coast – from Folkestone to the River Dart in Devon – we would like to hear from you.

December

(17 December) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes information on:

• 2013 consultation for the East of England draft marine plan
• upcoming South plan area workshops update
• first series of marine evidence information reports
• diary
• introducing a new team member

November

(26 November) Marine planning workshops in the South marine plan areas

The South Inshore and South Offshore areas are the third and fourth areas in England to be selected for marine planning. The South Inshore area includes a coastline that stretches from Folkestone to the River Dart. These two area plans will become part of a comprehensive marine planning system around England, enabling the effective integration of economic, social and environmental factors and promoting the sustainable development of our seas. Marine plans are also likely to offer significant economic benefits for local communities.

October

(31 October) MMO publishes first series of marine evidence and information reports (Press release 16/12)

A series of reports on activities in and around English seas are published today by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

The four new commissioned publications are part of the MMO’s work to identify and fill gaps in knowledge that marine planners, regulators and users currently face. The reports make recommendations on what information is needed to support MMO decisions, and also how the evidence base could be developed in the future.

(10 October) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes information on:

• consultation on the draft plan for the East of England
• upcoming South plan area workshops
• annual UK fishing industry report published
• new report to cover wide range of fisheries data
• new team members, reintroducing others and saying farewell...

August

(1 August) South coast announced as next area for marine planning (Press release 07/12)

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has today (1 August) announced that the coast and seas from Folkestone to the River Dart in Devon will be the second area in England to benefit from marine planning.

(1 August) New marine planning newsletter

The latest newsletter has been published and includes information on:

• the announcement of the third and fourth areas for marine planning
• new boundaries for areas in the South West and South
• recent options workshops
• updated marine planning timeline
• published Seascape character area assessment
• new data on the Marine Planning Portal
• new evidence to support marine planning
• information on a recent visit to Flamborough Head with the RSPB and Wildlife Trust.

(1 August) Updated marine plan areas map

The marine plan area boundaries have recently been scrutinised to make sure they are in line with the rules set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Following advice from ours and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' legal teams, the boundaries have been changed to align with the outer limit of the Renewable Energy Zone. This particularly affects the South West and South marine plan areas.

A high resolution version of the map along with geographic information system shapefiles is now available.

(1 August) Seascape character area assessment

We have produced this seascape character area assessment for the East Inshore and East Offshore marine plan areas to summarise and respond to comments received following the informal consultation of the key characteristics for the 10 character areas as outlined by URS Scott Wilson in their pilot study produced for Natural England.

(1 August) Options workshops summary

We held workshops in Norwich and Hull on 3 and 4 July with 55 stakeholders representing a range of marine activities. The aims of the workshops were to:

• introduce the initial options and our approach to options development
• get feedback on the implications of each option for different areas of interest and how to address these implications
• understand the views on the proposed options and related responses.

More information on options generation and initial options.

May

(24 May) Draft vision and objectives for the East marine plans: Update

We carried out an informal consultation between 23 March and 20 April 2012 on the Draft vision and objectives for the East marine plans, which set out the background to marine planning and the approach to developing a draft vision and set of objectives. We received 70 responses, containing 1,032 comments, from a wide variety of organisations.

March

(30 March) New marine plan areas to be announced this summer

We are pleased to announce that the next marine plan areas will be confirmed in July 2012, as work on the current plan areas continues.

(23 March) Draft vision and objectives for the East marine plans – informal consultation

We are carrying out an informal consultation between 23 March and 20 April 2012 on the Draft vision and objectives for the East marine plans, which set out the background to marine planning and the approach to developing a draft vision and set of objectives.

February

(7 Februrary) Evidence and Issues Report published

The final Evidence and Issues Report 2012 is published today following the consultation on the draft version of the report between 24 November 2011 and 10 January 2012. We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback and comments, which we have taken into consideration and amended the report where appropriate.

(1 February) Local sessions announced – have your say on future of our seas (Press release 01/12)

As the East of England leads the way with the UK’s first marine plans, public drop-in sessions are being held along the coast to make sure residents are fully involved.

A total of 12 sessions are being held in February – from Aldeburgh and Great Yarmouth to Hull and Bridlington – and a session is being held near you.

January

(19 January) Marine planning drop-in events

The Marine Management Organisation is currently planning for future marine activities in the East Inshore and East Offshore marine plan areas, and we are inviting anyone with an interest in the future of our seas to come along to our public drop-in sessions.

We are holding 12 public sessions along the East coast of England in February to explain what marine planning is, and what it means to coastal communities. Any individuals, marine groups or networks in the plan area are welcome, and can drop in to make sure their views are heard. From residents who enjoy a walk on the beach to keen sailors and anglers, we would like to hear from as many people as possible.

November

(24 November) Marine planning Evidence and Emerging Issues Report published today

A draft report on relevant evidence and marine planning issues in the East of England has been published for the first time today (24 November 2011) by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

The Evidence and Emerging Issues Report highlights current and future issues, including opportunities for a range of marine activities and users.

June

(30 June) Strategic Scoping Report published

We carried out a strategic scoping exercise (SSE) to examine the spatial distribution of natural resources and activities within England's marine area, and to provide a national context to the sub-national plans as they are developed.

This report is the first summary of the results from the SSE. It highlights, for the natural environment and the major use sectors, the relative importance of each plan area.

May

(25 May) Interactive map for marine planning launches online (Press release 16/11)

An interactive map of our seas is now online, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced today. The Marine Planning Portal allows anyone logging on to view a range of information and locations, from details of wind farm developments to conservation areas, and understand how busy our seas have become.

April

(12 April) Marine planning for England gets underway (Press release 12/11)

Marine planning for England formally begins today (12 April).

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is now producing plans to inform and guide marine regulators and users from Flamborough Head down to Felixstowe, and has also published a guide on how to have your say.

January

(14 January) Marine Management Organisation calls for tender for research and sustainability appraisal

The calls for tender are for two projects/contracts:

• The relationship between marine planning and coastal socio-economic development with particular reference to the East of England (deadline 4.00 pm on 9 February)
• Sustainability appraisal for East Inshore and East Offshore marine plans (deadline 12 noon on 16 February).

2010